Worked examples · Sheet 3
Rationalizations
Theory used: RationalizationProperties of roots
Go to: Exercise 1Exercise 2Exercise 3
Exercise 1
Rationalize
Before rationalizing it is convenient to simplify the root: , therefore and the fraction reduces to .
The denominator is a single root, therefore numerator and denominator are multiplied by : the product equals , hence the denominator becomes rational. The factor cancels between numerator and denominator and remains.
Exercise 2
Rationalize
The denominator is a binomial with square roots, therefore numerator and denominator are multiplied by the conjugate binomial . The product of a difference and the corresponding sum is the difference of the squares, hence the squares of the roots appear in the denominator: , a rational number.
The factor in the denominator cancels with the in the numerator, therefore the result is .
Exercise 3
Rationalize
The radicand is written as a power: . With a cube root in the denominator, the multiplying factor is the one that completes the cube under the root: since , numerator and denominator are multiplied by .
The product of cube roots is the cube root of the product, therefore the denominator becomes , a rational number. The fraction simplifies to and the result is .